This Sunday Dinner Pot Roast recipe is a classic combination that warms the heart and satisfies the soul.
This is my mother's recipe only I make it in the crock pot and it produces a tender, juicy beef, served alongside creamy mashed potatoes and perfectly cooked carrots.
Oh and don't worry! We'll have plenty of homemade gravy for those potatoes too!
The meat is cooked perfect every single time! Let me show you another one of my Family's Favorite Crock Pot Recipes that's perfect for Sunday Dinner!
Quick! Name a favorite comfort food from your childhood. Today I am sharing my favorite comfort food, my mom's pot roast recipe.
Serve this easy recipe over mashed potatoes and buttered carrots for an amazing comfort food dinner recipe.
Table of Contents
- Sunday Dinner at its Best
- Rump Roast in the Crock Pot
- How many Beef Bouillon Cubes for Pot Roast?
- 🛒Helpful Kitchen Tools
- 📋Ingredients
- Step-by-Step Directions:
- How Long to Cook the Pot Roast
- Expert Tip
- How to Make Gravy for Pot Roast
- Before You Begin!
- Storing, Freezing, Thawing and Reheating Tips
- More Sunday Dinner Ideas
- Recipe FAQ's
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 💬 Comments
Sunday Dinner at its Best
Pot roast in my mind if Sunday dinner at its best because I grew up on having pot roast every single Sunday. My mother put a pot roast in the oven before we left for church almost every single Sunday.
However, I make my pot roast in a crock pot. It's great for busy days when you need to be out of the house most of the day.
You get to come home to the delicious smells of dinner cooking and know dinner is almost ready with this great recipe for pot roast made in the crock pot.
Rump Roast in the Crock Pot
Most people have a favorite cut of beef to cook for their Sunday Dinner. I always use a rump roast. It's what my mother always used too.
When this cut of beef goes on sale at the grocery store, I try to buy a few and freeze. It is one meal even my picky kids will agree on!
How many Beef Bouillon Cubes for Pot Roast?
Depending on the size of your beef roast, 2 bouillon cubes are enough to give flavor to the roast while it cooks in the slow cooker.
You can use Better than Bouillon or my favorite Knorr Bouillon Cubes. Both are great ways to add flavor to a roast while it slow cooks.
🛒Helpful Kitchen Tools
More InformationMore InformationMore InformationMore InformationMore InformationMore Information
📋Ingredients
Make sure you print out the recipe below and save it for later!
For the Pot Roast:
- Rump Roast
- Vegetable Oil
- Beef Bouillon Cubes
- Water
- Salt and Pepper
For the Homemade Gravy:
- Butter; 2 tablespoons
- Flour; 2 tablespoons
- 2 cups of reserved beef broth from the crock pot
Step-by-Step Directions:
Step 1: In a heavy pan, brown the pot roast on all sides in a few tablespoons of oil. Season each side with salt and pepper. Once the roast is browned, add it to the crock pot that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Add 2 cups of water and 2 beef bouillon cubes. My favorite brand of bouillon cube is Knorr.
How Long to Cook the Pot Roast
Step 2: Cooking the pot roast can take anywhere from 6 to 8 hours depending on the size of the rump roast you're using and how fast your crock pot cooks.
Expert Tip
Patience is key with this cut of beef! Cook it slow and low, and you'll be rewarded with melt-in-your-mouth tenderness.
Here's a tip I learned from my mom, cook your pot roast until you can stick a small paring knife into the center of the roast easily. That tells you the meat is cooked to perfection!
All crock pots cook differently. Newer crock pots cook much faster than older ones.
How to Make Gravy for Pot Roast
Now on to making the gravy. We will have a thick, delicious gravy, don't worry! This is the method I use to make gravy all the time. You will never have lumps!
- Step 1: After the pot roast is completely cooked, remove it from the crock pot and place on a cutting board and cover with foil.
- Step 2: Pour the broth from the crock pot through a fine sieve that's been placed over a glass or metal bowl. You should have about 2 cups of liquid. This is what we will use to make the gravy.
- Step 3: In a small saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter.
- Step 4: Once completely melted, add 2 tablespoons of flour.
- Step 5: Cook the flour in the butter for a few minutes, stirring constantly.
- Step 6: Add 2 cups of the reserved broth and stir.
- Step 7: Stir constantly, cook until your gravy thickens.
Before You Begin!
If you make this recipe, please leave a review and star rating. This helps my business thrive and continue providing FREE recipes.
Storing, Freezing, Thawing and Reheating Tips
Refrigerator: After the pot roast cools, separate the meat and gravy. Store each in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freezer: Follow the steps above. Then label the containers with the date you prepared the pot roast and gravy. Place the containers in the freezer.Frozen pot roast can be stored for up to 2-3 months.
Thawing and Reheating: Thaw the pot roast and gravy overnight in the refrigerator. Gently reheat the gravy on the stovetop and add the pot roast slices to warm through. Add them to a casserole dish and bake until heated. If needed, make extra gravy using beef broth and combine it with the leftover gravy.
More Sunday Dinner Ideas
- Dutch Oven Roast Chicken - made with a homemade seasoning spice.
- Potato and Corn Chowder - serve with homemade white bread for a comforting Sunday dinner recipe.
- Homemade Tomato Sauce with Meatballs - my family loves pasta for dinner on Sundays!
- Bacon Wrapped Chicken - another delicious crock pot recipe.
- Pot Roast is even better with Homemade Biscuits!
Recipe FAQ's
To view the answers, simply click on the down arrow (⬇) next to each question. If you have any other questions not answered here, please leave a comment!
This answer varies depending on who you ask. For some people, only mashed potatoes will do and others love buttered noodles. There are even some people who only want homemade mac and cheese. It's really up to you and your family to decide what you enjoy best.
A chuck roast is any cut of meat that comes from the shoulder of a cow. And a "pot roast" isn't really a cut of meat! It just refers to the process of cooking beef.
📖 Recipe Card
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Walking on Sunshine Recipes.
Pot Roast in the Crock Pot
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Pot Roast
- Rump Roast
- 2 tablespoon oil
- 2 Beef Bouillon Cubes
- 2 cups of water
- Salt and Pepper
For the Gravy
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoon flour
- 2 cups of reserved beef broth from the crock pot
Instructions
For the Pot Roast
- Heat the 2 tbsp. oil in a heavy pan on top of the stove.
- Add the rump roast to the pan and brown on all sides; seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Once the pot roast is browned on all sides, place it in the crock pot.
- Add the two beef bouillon cubes and the two cups of water.
- Cook for six to eight hours on low or four to six hours on high.
- Tip: The pot roast is done when you can stick a knife in the center easily.
For the Gravy
- In a small saucepan, melt the 2 tbsp. of butter.
- Add the 2 tbsp. of flour and stir; allowing the flour to cook for a few minutes.
- Then add the 2 cups of reserved broth from the crock pot. If you need to, you can add water if there is not enough broth from the crock pot.
- Stir and simmer until the gravy thickens to the consistency you desire.
Notes
This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2012 with new photos and a new printable recipe card that includes nutritional information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!
angela Thompson says
Is Scrumptious and am willing to give it a whirl.
Thanks
Lois says
Hope you enjoy the recipe!
Sarah says
This is without a doubt THE BEST ROAST and gravy recipe. I have always been so picky on my gravy and could never find a recipe that was just perfect. I add a bit of thyme to the gravy for flavour, and sometimes I need to add more flour as two doesn’t seem enough. If I need more gravy or have a larger roast I just add another cup of water and one more beef cube to make more gravy if I have company. Other than that everything is perfect and is beyond delicious!! Thanks for this recipe that my whole family loves as well!
Lois says
Thank you for letting me know! Glad you enjoy the recipe as much as my family does!
Erlene - My Pinterventures says
I love pot roast and so does my hubby. Will be including your recipe in tonigth's MM party round-up.
Nicole B. says
My mom always made roast in the crock pot at least 2-3 times a month. It's a classic! Thanks for sharing your recipe at the #HomeMattersParty
Made In a Day says
Looks fabulous!T hanks for linking up to Merry Monday! Pinned! Have a great week!
Kim
Angela Muir says
Making my mouth water! Thank for linking up!
Kimberly Lewis says
This is my favorite way to cook a roast! Pinned. Lou Lou Girls
Mandee Pogue says
Lois! This looks DIVINE!!!!
Catherine says
Dear Lois, This looks delicious and hearty. Truly perfect comfort food. Blessings, Catherine xo
mickeydownunder says
G'day and wow Lois, never did a pot roast in the slow cooker before, true!
Yours looks very moist an bet it tasted great too!
Cheers! Joanne
http://whatsonthelist.net
sandra stinson says
That's the way I cook mine. So good.
Angie Walker says
Thank you for sharing this at the crock pot party. I already have this one pinned. YUUUUUMMMMMMYYYYY!!
Fiona says
Have just bought a crock pot so am madly looking around for recipes-
glad I found this one!
x
Marlys Folly says
I haven't made a pot roast for awhile... Should do it again. We always had pot roast on Sundays at home growing up.
Elena says
Now that looks yummy!!
Cheryl @ The Farmer's Daughter says
Looks good, Lois. I haven't used my crockpot in a while, I need to in this hot weather!
Chatty Crone says
You gave me a couple of ideas for my next pot roast - I just made one last weekend. So tell me though - what does the knife signify - I know done - but why? I am probably dumb here. sandie
Carol @ Always Thyme to Cook says
Now that is perfect comfort food. Looks delicious.
Blondee says
Sounds wonderful. I like to make roasts in the crock pot, too. 🙂
When making your gravy...you don't add any extra salt or pepper? (I suck at gravy making and any tips are helpful!)
Maple Lane says
Thanks to you and your Mom for the recipe. I'll have to try out my crock pot. Makes me hungry just seeing your photos.
Debra says
Mmmmm... that looks delicious. So good!
Sandra says
Mmmmmm that is like comfort food at it's best, for me 🙂 Looks amazing 🙂
Cranberry Morning says
Wow! Looks like a typical down-home American dinner. Yummy beef!
Nellie's Cozy place says
Morning Lois,
I saw your question yesterday but didn't know what to answer so figured I would think about it and answer later. When I have been sick I do like a steak, baked potato and salad after for some reason.
I think I might have just come up with mine.........after seeing your wonderful pot roast and veggies.
Works for me! Nothing like a good pot roast for sure.
Hope you are doing well my friend,
blessings, nellie
Tammy ~ Country Girl at Home ~ says
Lois,
I love using my crockpot in the summer. As a matter of fact, it's going to be put to use today for cheese ravioli. But my your roast looks and sounds good! Great gravy tip too!
Have a great Wednesday!
Tammy
Beth says
YUMM!! Sounds so good.
I think you and I must be related. I have always made gravy the same way you do. I also make a roux of the melted butter and flour, add a can of peas to make creamed peas. delicious.
allisamazing says
Your pot roast looks delicious and your gravy looks so good. I think I need to pull a roast out of the freezer now 🙂
Jill says
You're making me hungry for a roast and it's only 7:35 am here! 😉